Cluster opening method



Filed July 1l, 1956 arent einen Patented Jan., 9, i962 ddee 3,016,011 CLUSTER OPENING lVHlTHOD Fred Brown, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed July 11, 1956, Ser. No. 597,313 1 Claim. (Cl. 102-7.2)

The present invention relates to an ordnance bomb or missile adapted to be `dropped from an aircraft in flight and more particularly to explosive means for disintegrating the missile casing and releasing clusters of miniature bombsor submissiles therefrom after the missile has been dropped from an aircraft.

Moreover, the invention contemplates the provision of elongated explosive means such as primacord disposed within the casing of a cluster bomb and confined therein in such a manner that upon detonation of the explosive means the full force of the explosion is directed against the cylindrical Wall of the bomb casing wit-h sufficient force to canse fragmentation thereof and release clusters of the miniature bombs from their normally locked clustered position whereupon the miniature bombs will travel toward a target area in a definite and highly destructive pattern.

An object of the present invention is to provide new and improved means for releasing a cluster of miniature bombs from a bomb casing after the bomb has been dropped from an aircraft in flight.

Another object of the invention is the provision of new and improved means for confining a plurality of explosive cords within a cluster bomb casing in such a manner as to cause fragmentation of the casing as the explosive cords are fired.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of new and improved means for releasing a plurality of submissiles, or sub-vehicles, from a carrier missile a predetermined period of time after the carrier missile is released from an aircraft in flight.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of new and improved pyrotechnic means for causing fragmentation of the casing of a carrier missile and release of a plurality of submissiles upon a target in a highly destructive pattern.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes Ibetter understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. l is a view partially in elevation and partially in section of a carrier missile with a plurality of submissiles arranged therein and illustrating the carrier missile bursting meins constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. l; and,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating one of the elongated explosive cords and the tubular coniining element therefor.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to FIG. l thereof the numeral generally indicates a carrier missile or bomb comprising a cylindrical casing 11 composed of thin plastic or metallic material such, for example, as aluminum or the like and having a nose 12 secured .to the leading end and a tail 13 secured to the.

trailing end thereof, the tail being provided with a conventional stabilizing assembly 14 having a plurality of inclined fins constructed and arranged to cause rotation of the missile during the free flight of the missile toward the target after the missile has been dropped from an aircraft in flight` A plurality of semicircular or other suitably formed tubes 15 are disposed within the casing 11 in spaced relation with respect to each other and extend longitudinally along the length of the casing 11 in close proximity to the inner cylindrical surface thereof. The terminal ends of each tube are disposed within a pair of supporting rings 16 respectively with the intermediate portions thereof supported by a plurality of miniature bomb retaining rings 17 comprising a plurality of segmental elements 18 detachably secured together as at 19, the rings 17 releasably supporting a cluster of miniature bombs 21. The tubular elements 15 are each provided with an inwardly disposed reinforcing rib 22 secured thereto in any suitable manner such, for example as by welding the parts together and extending longitudinally along the full length thereof and disposed within corresponding slots 23 formed in each of the segmental elements 18.

As more clearly shown on FIG. 2, an explosive cord such as primacord 24 is disposed within each of the semicircular elements 15 in proximate relation with respect to the inner surface of the casing 11 and extending the full length of the semicircular elements and into the nose and tail portions of the bomb, FIG. 1. The nose 12 is provided with a fuze generally indicated by the reference character 2S operable at a predetermined distance from the target. No detailed illustration or description of the aforesaid fuze mechanism is herein set forth since the construction and operation of such fuzes in the various types which are available, are well known. The aforesaid primacords are adapted to be `connected to the fuze mechanism whereupon the fuze will provide the necessary electrical impulse to initiate ring of the explosive cords simultaneously when the bom-b is a predetermined distance from the target area such, for example, as from 500 to 1200 feet.

When the explosive cords are fired in the aforesaid manner the forceof the explosion is suicient to break the thin aluminum cylindrical casing 11 into small fragments and since the inward force of the explosion is conned by the semicircular metallic tube 15, the full force of the explosion is directed against the casing 11. Upon fragmentation of the casing and in response to rotation of the missile the segmental elements 18 of rings 17 are separated at the releasable joints 19 and forcibly moved outwardly and tangentially by centrifugal force from the missile thereby releasing the miniature bombs whereupon the bombs are dispersed by centrifugal force to assume their desired and most effective positions in the bomb pattern, rotation of the missile being accomplished by the aforesaid inclined ns of the stabilizing assembly 14.

Although the explosive cords have been described in connection with a proximity fuze for initiating ring thereof, it will be understood that, if desired, the cords may be fired by a pyrotechnic or mechanical delay device initiated as the bomb is released from the aircraft and having a time delay element adapted to re the cords when the bomb is a' predetermined distance from the target area thereby to release the miniature bombs in a definite pattern in order to increase the probability of scoring a direct hit on the target.

From the foregoing it is believed that it will be apparent lthat there is provided by the present invention highly efficient means for disintegrating a carrier bomb casing by dctonation of a plurality of explosive cords extending and confined longitudinally along the inner surface of the casing when the-bomb has reached a predetermined dispersal point after being released from an aircraft in flight thereby to release a plurality of miniature bombs'upon a target area in a definite and highly destructive pattern.

Obviously many modifications and variations o-f the present invention Vare possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claim. the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

An aircraft launched cluster bomb comprising an elongated thin skinned casing provided with a tapered nose portion, means affixed to said casing for effecting rotation thereof subsequent to launching from the carrying aircraft, a plurality of miniature missiles nested in tandem groups along the longitudinal axis of said casing, a plurality of annular means spatially positioned within said casing perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, unique pairs of said annular means surrounding each of said groups yof missiles, each of said last recited means being formed of a plurality of normally communicating segmented members abutting the inner surface of said casing, a plurality of 4spatially positioned ignitable pyrotechnic devices abuttingly extending along the inner surface of said casing for effecting disintegration of said casing upon being ignited, a semicircular member enclosing for effecting separation of said members thereby releasing said bound missiles.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,335,927 Firth Dec. 7, 1943 2,362,414 Simpson Nov. 7, 1944 2,411,432 Imber Nov. 19, 1946 2,476,973 Gillon July 26, 1949 2,587,244 Sweetman Feb. 26, 1952 2,809,583 Ortynsky et al Oct. 15, 1957 

